The Northern Territory chief minister has broken his silence on the conflict of interest allegations which led to the resignation of the police commissioner and the suspension of another high-ranking officer.
Adam Giles addressed the media on Friday afternoon in Darwin after returning early from leave, to reassure Territorians that the alleged misconduct by former police commissioner John McRoberts and police commander Richard Bryson would be thoroughly investigated and kept at “arm’s length” from the police force.
He also revealed a third investigation has now commenced – the latest by the NT ombudsman.
McRoberts resigned last Monday after he was presented with evidence that the government said indicated he involved himself with and may have influenced a criminal investigation into a person with whom he has a relationship.
That investigation is understood to have led to the charges of fraud against Darwin travel agent and chair of Crimestoppers NT, Alexandra Kamitsis. McRoberts has denied he had a conflict of interest.
The following day, the acting commissioner, Reece Kershaw, announced he had suspended the head of the crime and specialist support command, Bryson, over related allegations.
In recent days Giles had been accused by the territory’s opposition leader of being “missing in action” and “hiding” while the scandal played out with questions around who in government was aware of the alleged misconduct.
The government acted swiftly to respond to the allegations against McRoberts, about which it was first made aware on 9 January, Giles said on Friday. Giles conceded he had heard about it earlier, but could not act on rumours, it was reported.
Giles also defended the actions of the Northern Territory government and his own decision to give the police portfolio to Peter Chandler less than one month before the evidence of alleged misconduct surfaced.
Sky News reported that Giles said the government had lost confidence in McRoberts and advised him to resign when it learned of the allegations. Guardian Australia was told last week by a spokesman for the police minister that McRoberts had been presented with the evidence and “his immediate reaction was to resign”.
“We have the solicitor for the Northern Territory, the ombudsman and the public interest disclosure commissioner all looking into the matter,” Giles said. “I have full confidence in the ability of these bodies to identify any potential misconduct and examine all relevant information.”
Responding to media reports on Friday morning, he also said it was the right decision for the public interest disclosure commissioner to stand aside after declaring her own conflict of interest in the matter.
Commission investigator and former crown prosecutor, Caroline Norrington, “will be fearless” in her investigations, Giles said. He offered his support for the commission seeking additional resources if needed.
Giles dismissed calls by the opposition for an independent commission against corruption for the Northern Territory.
The opposition leader, Delia Lawrie, said the matter was “descending into farce” and called for the government to “at least” enact an independent judicial inquiry.
“How is it acceptable that a matter of such grave concern is now split between three government agencies, each with separate powers, rather than a single independent judicial inquiry?” Lawrie said.
When parliament returned in February the Labor party would move to call the chief minister for questioning if a judicial inquiry was not launched, she said.
